Chicago Bears Eyeing Top Prospects at Key Positions in 2026 NFL Draft

Offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge rusher, cornerback, and safety among Bears' top needs ahead of next month's draft

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:03pm

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With the 2026 NFL Draft less than a month away, the Chicago Bears are evaluating prospects at several key positions of need, including offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge rusher, cornerback, and safety. While the team addressed some major holes in free agency, general manager Ryan Poles has indicated he will stick to the best player available approach at pick 25.

Why it matters

The Bears are looking to build on a promising 2025 season and continue their climb back to playoff contention. Nailing their first-round pick will be crucial, as they aim to find immediate impact players to complement their existing roster.

The details

At offensive tackle, Alabama's Kadyn Proctor is a logical target if the Bears opt to address the position in the first round, though he'll need to improve his pass protection. On the defensive line, Clemson's Peter Woods and Ohio State's Kayden McDonald are two intriguing options to bolster the interior. On the edge, Missouri's Zion Young could be the pick if higher-rated prospects like Akheem Mesidor are off the board. In the secondary, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeill-Warren are potential first-round fits for the Bears' defense.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is less than one month away, taking place from April 24-26.
  • The Bears attended Alabama's Pro Day on March 28, where Kadyn Proctor was a top prospect in attendance.

The players

Kadyn Proctor

A 6'7", 352-pound offensive tackle from Alabama who is a scheme fit for the Bears but will need to improve his pass protection skills.

Peter Woods

A physically gifted defensive tackle from Clemson who could be an intriguing option to bolster the Bears' interior defensive line.

Zion Young

A 6'6", 262-pound edge rusher from Missouri who the Bears hosted on a top-30 visit, offering a strong run defender but limited pass-rushing upside.

Jermod McCoy

A long, press-man cornerback from Tennessee who could be a good fit for the Bears' defensive scheme if he checks out medically after missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL.

Emmanuel McNeill-Warren

A versatile safety from Toledo who could be an option for the Bears at pick 25 if higher-rated prospects like Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman are off the board.

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What they’re saying

“We now have less than one month to go before the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Bears addressed some of their major needs in free agency, I don't think virtually any position that was a weakness one month ago (besides maybe linebacker) is off the board for Chicago at pick 25.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears

“Evaluations are all over the board for Peter Woods. Some are down on him after a relatively disappointing season, but he's undoubtedly one of the most physically gifted defensive tackles in this year's class.”

— Author

What’s next

The Bears will continue their pre-draft evaluations, including hosting prospects for top-30 visits, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 24-26.

The takeaway

The Bears have several key needs to address in the first round, and their approach will be crucial in determining the trajectory of their roster heading into the 2026 season. Finding immediate impact players at positions like offensive tackle, defensive line, and in the secondary will be paramount as they look to build on last year's progress.